After six hours of waiting and in windy conditions, Ugo Humbert successfully negotiated his entry into contention in Miami, in the second round, against Botic Van de Zandschulp (77th in the world) despite a few small slacks during the match and a some tension to conclude (6-4, 6-3). Sometimes nervous, the French n°1 was able to get by in a game where, after some timing problems in return, he was sometimes able to raise his level of play against a Dutchman who has not yet managed this season to win two matches in a row.
On the line at 4-4 in the first set when he was trailing 15-30 after two double-faults, Humbert reacted to immediately take his opponent’s serve (and the set) by concluding on his second ball of set after a happy let allowing him to adjust a passing in stride. Released, he shifted gears in the second set, immediately taking the service of the Dutchman, guilty of a double fault even though he had served very well at the start of the match (6 aces in the first set).
The Frenchman, who seemed to have control of the exchanges to lead 3-0, faltered during a moment of relaxation and drop in intensity which saw him make a series of faults only to be broken. But he recovered immediately with two good returns allowing him to regain the advantage at 5-3. And after a final moment of tension when serving for the match, he saved two break points and concluded on his third match point with a winning serve.
Knowing how to capitalize on a very good quality of service (96% of points won behind the first ball in the 1st set, 76% from first ball in the match), despite a poor ratio on his second ball (one point won out of nine in the second set ), Humbert will face the winner of the match between Dominik Köpfer and Sebastian Baez in the third round, a stage he has never passed before in Miami.
